'They'll Never Take Our Freedo-o-om!': The Greatest Movie Speeches Ever

By Alison Nastasi

The oratory this past election season wasn't always inspiring, but that's what we have movies for. With the arrival of Patton on Blu-ray coming just before Barack Obama's acceptance talk last night, I felt compelled to revisit a few memorable speeches in film history. George C. Scott starred in Franklin J. Schaffner's 1970 war drama as General George S. Patton, and we first meet the actor during a stern opening address to the troops of the U.S. 3rd Army, framed by a massive American flag. It's a spare, bold moment that sets the tone for the film and introduces Patton as an uncompromising military leader ready to fight. It's also a reminder that impressive, intense dialogue can outshine even the greatest of special effects. Below, look back at some quotable, emotional, and uplifting speeches that have graced the big screen.